MacGregor 26 sailing in a full gale, 50mph winds, 18' seas

[jakenseattle]

Would you try something like this?

MACGREGOR 26 50 MPH WINDS, 18' SEAS - YouTube

[two fast]

You must be kidding your self that's nowhere near 50 mph winds!

[Pete7]

Agreed, although there is a good swell running I would guess this is left over from previous much stronger winds. What they are sailing in is more like a wind strength of force 4/5. Have a good look at the only occasional breaking wave top. That sea running is bigger than force 4/5 though so generated by stronger earlier winds. 50 mph is what 43 knots, there would be horizontal spray off the top of each wave in addition to big breaking seas.

Still good demo of a Mac 26 in big waves showing that it can be done in a little boat if you are caught out providing you don't loose the plot.

Pete

[ontherocks83]

26' Sail boat maybe. 26' power/sail something or other......I am all set with that

[senormechanico]

Looks to me like 30 knots and six to ten foot seas.

Who originally wrote that 50mph and 18' stuff anyway?

[bbowers2004]

Looks like they were handling just fine....

[Jim Cate]

Maybe what it means is that in a Mac 26 the 25 knots shown seems like 50... I dunno!

Jim

[rocksculpter]

In 1980 I was crossing the Bahama bank in a Venture 25 (pre Macgregor) as Hurricane Allen blew through. I got back to Bimini after three days of beating into it and clocked the winds for the next couple of days at 55mph. I was too busy and tired to test the wind while surfing down huge steep waves with the knotmeter pegged at 10. It was foolish that I was there at all but I claim ignorance as that it was my first cruise. I think only my experience surfing kayaks and the cork of a boat got me through. It's a long story in the telling and I still find it amazing I lived through it.

I wouldn't do it again but that's why I now have a proper blue water boat.